Everyday Carbon Rationing | The Green Ration Book

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Defra funded study of beef, tomatoes, etc

Williams, A.G., Audsley, E. and Sandars, D.L. (2006)

Determining the environmental burdens and resource use in the production of agricultural and horticultural commodities.
Main Report. Defra Research Project IS0205. Bedford: Cranfield University and Defra.

Using CO2e(20years) gives this update of the animal products in the table above

Quantity

Food

kg CO2e(20)

6

Eggs

1.29

454g

Lamb chops

11.85

350g

Pork chops

2.54

750g

Chicken

2.98

342g

Beef steak

8.63

The New Scientist says

Their analysis showed that producing a kilogram of beef leads to the emission of greenhouse gases with a warming potential equivalent to 36.4 kilograms of carbon dioxide. It also releases fertilising compounds equivalent to 340 grams of sulphur dioxide and 59 grams of phosphate, and consumes 169 megajoules of energy (Animal Science Journal, DOI:

The present results showed that the total contributions of one beef calf throughout its life cycle to global warming, acidification, eutrophication and energy consumption were 4550 kg of CO2 equivalents, 40.1 kg of SO2 equivalents, 7.0 kg of phosphate (PO4) equivalents and 16.1 GJ, respectively.